'Chicago' the musical razzle-dazzles at Ivoryton Playhouse CT

For those who haven’t heard about
the Ivoryton Playhouse’s latest production of the Kander and Ebb hit Broadway
musical Chicago the only advice that
can be offered is to rush for tickets – this razzling dazzling musical is on
stage only until July 24.

Brilliant director/choreographer
Todd L. Underwood, who directed last season’s Ivoryton smash hit Memphis, infuses Chicago
with all the dark sensuality of the jazz age while getting every laugh and
poignant moment from Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse’s book.

This Chicago,
set during Prohibition, has everything that makes theater great – a story of
the cult of desire for fame and fortune, corruption, murder, celebrity lawyers
and criminals, all rolled up into a theatrical gift basket with brilliant songs
and great dancing by a cast of wonderfully talented actors.

Opening the show as Velma Kelly,
nightclub vamp extraordinaire, is Stacey Harris, who sings the iconic number
“And All That Jazz” with the sensational ensemble men and women who are put
through their paces interpreting the exciting choreography of Mr. Underwood.
This show contractually does not allow Bob Fosse’s dance patterns to be used,
but what you see on the Ivoryton stage freshly captures all the bold creativity
and essence of the original show. Ms. Harris makes “All That Jazz” her own, and
at the end of the show, singing “Nowadays” with Roxie, she continues to show us
what great talent is all about.

Central to the story is Roxie
Hart, whose passions lead to murder, and around whom the musical revolves. Lyn
Philistine plays Roxie with loveable brashness and heart, and her big dream
sequence, “Roxie” lets us in on what she’s aspiring to be – a star. Ms.
Philistine in her own right is just that. She and Ms. Harris are a joy to
watch, together and separately. Both women command the kind of attention that –
nowadays- ‘selfies’ elicit. It’s the “look at me” enticement that works
excitingly in this show.

As the smarmy legal eagle Billy
Flynn, actor Christopher Sutton makes his character both border-line detestable
one minute and likeable the next. Billy oozes confidence and sex appeal, and in
his signature anthem, “Razzle Dazzle” explains how easy it is to pull the wool
over the eyes of nearly everyone. (Had this show been written today, it would
be a perfectly sarcastic caricature of a candidate running for US
president.) The song, a big ensemble
piece, is melodic and exciting, and the cast, led by Mr. Sutton gives its all
to the production number.

Sheniqua Trotman, as Mama Morton,
the prison matron with heart, shows us why she won her Connecticut Critics
Circle award a few seasons ago for her portrayal of Effie in Ivoryton’s Dreamgirls. Her “When You’re Good To
Mama” and “Class” (a duet with Velma) are two numbers that give her big voice a
chance to take center stage. Mama Morton is the one to whom all the jailed
women turn for solace and sympathy – for a monetary price, of course. Hence, be
good to Mama, and she’ll be good to you.

Z. Spiegel as Mary Sunshine,
journalist and gossip, gives her operatic voice a workout in “A Little Bit of
Good.” She’s a big girl without a
malicious streak – even though she works for a newspaper. Ian Shain plays Roxie’s shy cuckolded
husband, Amos. He does the “Mister Cellophane” song with such pathos and charm
that instead of pitying this character, you’ll want to give him a hug.

With an ensemble of a dozen men
and women who take on multiple roles in every scene, there are so many great
numbers it makes it difficult to pick a favorite. Will yours be the women’s
“Cell Block Tango” or the girls and Billy in “All I Care About,” or the men’s
“When Velma Takes the Stand,” or “Me and My Baby?” We’re thinking you’ll love a complete
ensemble piece, with Billy, Roxie and Mary Sunshine doing “We Both Reach for
the Gun.”

This show is chock full of
laughs, surprises, thrilling dancing, marvelous singing and a totally likeable
cast. Even though some of the characters
are kind of rotten, manipulative and selfish, you’ll love them anyway.

The production is directed musically
by Paul Feyer, who doubles on keyboard and guides eight great musicians through
the jazz age nightly. Set design by Martin Marchitto, lighting design by Marcus
Abbott and costume design by Elizabeth Cipollina are all original and
distinctive to Ivoryton Playhouse. Check out Mama’s feather coat and Roxie’s
red sparkles!

Usually not reviewed are
producers. But in this case Executive Producers Michael A. Dattilo and Frank
Perrotti deserve special thanks from the theater community. They, along with
Executive/Artistic Director Jacqueline Hubbard are responsible for giving the
gift of exciting professional theater to rural Connecticut.

Even if you’ve seen the Academy
Award-winning film, this Chicago, live on stage at the Ivoryton
Playhouse is a brilliant don’t miss experience. And here’s a bit of history:
the show was revived on Broadway in 1996 and holds the record as the
longest-running musical revival in Broadway history, and is the second
longest-running show in Broadway history, behind "The Phantom of the
Opera". The London revival ran for nearly
15 years, becoming the longest-running American musical, ever, on the West End.

We’d love to see this show and
cast go on tour intact, even though right now that might not be in the cards.
But you can take a quick summer tour to charming Ivoryton through July 24 to be
dazzled and jazzed with this delightful Chicago.

Performance times are Wednesday
and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at
7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

Tickets are $50 for adults; $45
for seniors; $22 for students and $17 for children and are available by calling
the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting the website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
The Playhouse is located at 103
Main Street in Ivoryton.

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